title: Abnormal spermatogenesis and reduced fertility in transgenic mice expressing the immediate-early protein IE180 of pseudorabies virus.
abstract: Transcription factors of alphaherpesviruses not only control the expression of their own viral genes, but also influence the gene expression of mammalian cells. In the course of breeding of the transgenic mouse line (TgIE96) expressing the immediate-early protein IE180 of pseudorabies virus belonging to the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae, we found that TgIE96 male mice suffered from severe breeding difficulties. Testes of TgIE96 were smaller than that of non-transgenic littermates and abnormal spermatogenesis such as morphological, numerical and functional anomalies of spermatozoa were found in the transgenic mouse line. Expression of IE180 was detected in the germ cells at all stages, especially spermatocytes, and fewer Sertoli cells. In addition, expression of IE180 was also detected in the germinal cells of C57BL/6 mice inoculated with PRV into their testes. These results suggest that IE180 of PRV induces male infertility by abnormal spermatogenesis, which effect morphological, numerical, and functional anomalies of spermatozoa, in transgenic mice.
authors.affiliation: Division of Disease Model Innovation, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0815, Japan. Electronic address: ytomio@igm.hokudai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tomioka
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morimatsu
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taharaguchi
authors.forename: Sayo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Haruka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suyama
authors.forename: Kinuyo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iwamori
authors.forename: Etsuro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ono
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D011558:Herpesvirus 1, Suid; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009929:Organ Size; D011557:Pseudorabies / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins
keywords: Fertility; Immediate-early protein; Pseudorabies virus; Spermatogenesis; Transgenic mice